Eclipse Awards 2019: Got Stormy

Got Stormy has seemingly never met a turf course she did not like.

A 4-year-old filly in 2019, Got Stormy won half of her eight starts through the year, with the victories coming from coast to coast. In the races she did not win, Got Stormy was second or third on four different courses.

Her consistency has made her a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding turf female of 2019.

:: Full list of 2019 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse, Got Stormy began and concluded the season with wins. Her final start was an impressive victory in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on Dec. 1 at Del Mar.

“She’s amazing,” Casse said after the race. “Put her on a plane, a van. She’s like, ‘Where we going next?’ ”

Through the year, Got Stormy raced in six states and the province of Ontario.

Got Stormy had a bumpy start to the campaign before widespread success in the summer and fall.

Got Stormy won her first start of the year in an allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option in March at Gulfstream Park. She was beaten in her next two starts – a third to Rushing Fall in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes in April at Keeneland and a second to Beau Recall in the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

By the Stormy Atlantic stallion Get Stormy, Got Stormy was first or second in her final five starts of the year, four of which were Grade 1 races.

Got Stormy won the restricted De La Rose Stakes for fillies and mares on Aug. 3 at Saratoga and then recorded a mild upset to win the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap against males seven days later. She ran a mile in course-record time of 1:32.

The win led Casse to compare Got Stormy to Tepin, whom he trained to become champion turf female of 2015 and 2016.

“She’s turned into a super filly,” Casse said after the Fourstardave. “I told Gary early in the year that she was our next Tepin. It’s nice sometimes when you’re right. She’s amazing.”

Got Stormy was a game second to 44-1 El Tormenta in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, leading to the final furlong before losing by a half-length. Breeders’ Cup bettors saw enough from that performance and Got Stormy’s races at Saratoga to make her the 3-1 favorite in a field of 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

Got Stormy beat the 11 males in the race, but could not hold off a late rally from the mare Uni, who won by 1 1/2 lengths. Uni also is a finalist for the Eclipse Award as outstanding turf female.

The win in the Matriarch capped a brilliant season, giving Got Stormy her sixth career stakes win in 18 starts.

Got Stormy was bred by Mt. Joy Stables, Pope McLean, Marc McLean, and Pope McLean Jr.